Like a juggernaut steered by an angry green man, the Marvelverse is careering into its third phase with a full cargo of bullion and fresh ideas aplenty. Ant-Man kicks off Phase 3, and later on, Doctor Strange will hover into view with Scott Derrickson at the helm. This is a project studio head Kevin Feige calls “totally different from anything else we have”. Current tips for the role include Ethan Hawke and Ewan McGregor, but, then, Joaquin Phoenix was heavily linked with it only to withdraw from contention. If not McGregor or Hawke, who will step into the Sorcerer Supreme’s magic shoes and carry Marvel’s next superhero onto the big screen? We’ve had fun guessing.

Patrick Dempsey If fanboy fervour and sheer enthusiasm were deciding factors, Patrick Dempsey would already be measured up for Doctor Strange’s silky cape. He’s been lobbying for the role since it was barely a twinkle in Kevin Feige’s eye, after being pointed to the superpowered neurosurgeon/sorceror by Grey’s Anatomy crew members. “It would be a fun one to do," he's said. "And I wouldn’t want him to be Mister-weepy-doctor guy”. But will McDreamy become, er, McSorcery? Well, Dempsey’s Transformers villain had a certain menace, he’s jolly handsome and with that Grey’s role under this belt, he’d nail the neurosurgery bits. But his lack of chunky big-screen roles may count against him.

Adrien Brody Once you’ve dealt with Nazis, giant apes and intergalactic hunters with seafood for a face, the Dark Dimension won’t hold many terrors. Happily, Adrien Brody has the acting prowess to feign terror at the sight of Dormammu or his phalanxes of Mindless One, and brings Oscar cred. Looking at The Brothers Bloom in particular, he effortlessly communicate Doctor Strange’s theatricality, and could nail the angstier side of Strange’s struggles with the role thrust upon him by a needy world. Brody probably isn’t going to scare The Dread One with his bulging physique, but Strange only needs one muscle and it’s between his ears. Brody also has minimal blockbuster previous, Kong aside, so he wouldn’t clutter up the Marvelverse with superhero baggage.

Oded Fehr With a name pronounced ‘O-dead Fair’, the Israeli actor was practically born to play a wizard. His may be a new name to many but he’s bound to be in Marvel’s thoughts, falling right into the Doctor Strange age bracket (he’s 42) and boasting a seriously uncanny physical resemblance to Steve Ditko’s comic-book sorcerer. While he’s best known for telly procedurals like Covert Affairs and NCIS, he’s no newbie to big Hollywood properties. He was in The Mummy, where he was charged with defying foul schemes involving demonic presences, fought zombies in the Resident Evil franchise and in Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo he played a Russian rent boy. We’re guessing that some of those experiences would come handier than the other.

Joseph Fiennes Now 43, Fiennes has long since graduated from teen pin-up to veteran thesp, so he’s as adept at playing darker spirits as handsome Shakespearean types. There’s a bit of both in Stephen Vincent Strange, a man brought low by a Shakespearean tragedy only to be reshaped into a self-assured magician by the Prospero-like Ancient One in Tibet. He’s the right age and, while he’s hardly been ubiquitous in recent years, he’d offer the kind of fresh-but-familiar face that may appeal to Marvel. If the studio is looking to add a little Anglo-Saxon dash to their bubbling cauldron, he’d be perfect. Plus, he’s already played Merlin so he knows magic. Abraca-frickin’-dabra.

I would pick Johnny Depp because he has got the looks with his goatee, dark hair and slim face.
He has played many different characters in the past and he would be amazing to play this character because he only cares about wealth from his career which then turns badly from his hands got shattered from car crash. This made me think of Edward Scissorhands,Secret Window including Captain Jack Sparrow and mix them together, he would be perfect to be Doctor Strange . I would like Marvel Studios to pick him.
What do you think guys? More

Posted by MJSlater on Wednesday June 4, 2014, 11:10

9

pretty lazy choices

i think that given marvels track record it will be one of two things an up and comer or a semi a-lister that's what they do they either make careers or take them to the next level..i heard johhny depp mentioned i personally can't see it happening but stranger things have happened (pun intended)..to be honest i think this will be one of the hardest of the heros to cast..in my opinion i think i'd have to agree with viggo just because he;s such a believeable actor and when a role is highly unbelieveable the best way to counter act that is to cast someone truly grounded and a master a showing you the person behind the hero and legend of a character just like he did with aragorn in the lotr trilogy. More

Posted by Atila DePun on Friday February 21, 2014, 21:12

10

pretty lazy choices

i think that given marvels track record it will be one of two things an up and comer or a semi a-lister that's what they do they either make careers or take them to the next level..i heard johhny depp mentioned i personally can't see it happening but stranger things have happened (pun intended)..to be honest i think this will be one of the hardest of the heros to cast..in my opinion i think i'd have to agree with viggo just because he;s such a believeable actor and when a role is highly unbelieveable the best way to counter act that is to cast someone truly grounded and a master a showing you the person behind the hero and legend of a character just like he did with aragorn in the lotr trilogy. More

Posted by Atila DePun on Friday February 21, 2014, 21:12

11

pretty lazy choices

i think that given marvels track record it will be one of two things an up and comer or a semi a-lister that's what they do they either make careers or take them to the next level..i heard johhny depp mentioned i personally can't see it happening but stranger things have happened (pun intended)..to be honest i think this will be one of the hardest of the heros to cast..in my opinion i think i'd have to agree with viggo just because he;s such a believeable actor and when a role is highly unbelieveable the best way to counter act that is to cast someone truly grounded and a master a showing you the person behind the hero and legend of a character just like he did with aragorn in the lotr trilogy. More

Posted by Atila DePun on Friday February 21, 2014, 21:12

12

RE: Guy Pearce

I like the idea of Benedict Cumbepatch or John Cusack, but I think Jonathan Rhys Meyers could be pretty good too... More

Posted by rommel on Monday October 28, 2013, 12:52

13

RE: Guy Pearce

Guy Pearce can do no wrong in my book ..but then hang on there was that time travelling remake ...argh no matter who would remember anyway! He would be my first choice and also good call on Crispin Glover..like your thinking More